Black Sails XIII (Starz 21 Feb 2015, with Nick Boraine)

In Black Sails XIII Flint has issued the command to fire on the fort. Once a big enough breach has been made in the walls Flint’s men will storm the fort.

On the beach Miranda confronts Flint telling him she has something hugely important to tell him. Taking respite in a private room at Eleanor’s tavern Miranda tells Flint that Abigail Ashe is the girl being held captive by Vane and his men. She makes it clear that Flint needs to rescue Abigail and take her back to her father in the Americas. Lord Ashe was once a powerful ally of Hamilton and Flint’s but now is very anti the pirates. Miranda believes that Flint can persuade him once again to help change the English government’s mind about pardoning the pirates and allowing them to self govern Nassau. Realistically Flint knows it’s the most likely way of getting the outcome for the island that is his ultimate game plan.

Silver tells Billy the truth about what happened to Gates and why Flint did what he did. He hopes by doing so that it will make him see sense about the bigger picture and the Urca gold.

Flashbacks see the campaign to pardon the Nassau pirates but Flint/McGraw has returned from Nassau with bad news. The governor has been deposed by the pirates leaving it completely lawless. Flint though thinks the plan to pardon the pirates may just work if they appeal directly to the sealords. Before Hamilton and Flint get the chance to put any plan into action, Hamilton’s father has scuppered everything – Flint is dismissed from the Navy and Hamilton has been spirited away to an asylum. We are initially meant to think that Flint’s affair with Lady Hamilton has been the ultimate catalyst but flashbacks within the flashbacks reveal that it is actually Flint and Hamilton himself who have been having the affair.

Lord Ashe wants to get Flint and Lady Hamilton away to Europe but Flint makes it plain that they will be heading to Nassau…

The flashbacks have been superb at adding some very valuable background to Flint and his relationship with Miranda. It also adds much to our understanding of who he is and why he is so determined to make Nassau self governing.

classic quote
“We all have the same swords, the same guns but great art has felled empires.” – Rackham on the importance of having the right banner for his ship.

production details
USA / Starz / 1×60 minute episode / Broadcast 21 February 2015

Writers: Aaron Helbing, Todd Helbing / Director: Alik Sakharov

Series: Black Sails Season 2 Episode 5

cast
Toby Stephens as Captain Flint
Hannah New as Eleanor Guthrie
Luke Arnold as John Silver
Jessica Parker Kennedy as Max
Zach McGowan as Captain Charles Vane
Toby Schmitz as Rackham
Clara Paget as Anne Bonny
Louise Barnes as Miranda Barlow
Hakeem Kae-Kazim as Mr. Scott
Sean Cameron Michael as Richard Guthrie
Rupert Penry-Jones as Thomas Hamilton
Mark Elderkin as Pastor Lambrick
Nick Boraine as Peter Ashe
Patrick Lyster as Captain Benjamin Hornigold
Robert Hobbs as Jenks
Craig Jackson as Featherstone
Meganne Young as Abigail Ashe
Lise Slabber as Idelle
Lawrence Joffe as Randall
Angelique Pretorius as Charlotte
Andre Jacobs as De Groot
Christopher McArthur as Runner
Greg Melvill-Smith as Admiral Hennessey
Danny Keogh as Alfred Hamilton
Patrick Lavisa as Babatunde
Jake Maisel as Boy #1
Martin Van Geems as Larson
Roland Reed as Dufresne
Richard Lukunku as Joshua
Dylan Skews as Logan
Winston Chong as Joji
Richard Wright-Firth as Muldoon
Laudo Liebenberg as Dooley